On the list....

This summer my niece, Lydia spent some time visiting...it was grand! I created a scavenger hunt of Pittsburgh for her and her friend.  (If anyone has an interest in doing said scavenger hunt...let me know; clues, photos, food stops...... ) 

Part of the successful completion of the scavenger hunt involved asking persons in our fair city what made Pittsburgh great.  To a person the overwhelming response was, "The people."  I could not agree more.  Ours is a wonderful mix of blue collar real-ness mixed with kindness mixed with loyalty mixed with black and gold everything.

Today, October 27, is the third anniversary of the shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill. It was a Saturday morning, rainy and cold. I knew that synagogue and had spoken there for community gatherings several times. The shock of yet another mass shooting numbs and angers, yet, when it hits this close, in one's city, a neighborhood known, that is a deeper kind of horror.  Pittsburgh is now on the list of locations of mass shootings.  It stings to hear us included in this litany of sadness and brokenness. 

Two weeks after the tragedy, clergy from a variety of faith traditions gathered together in support and to discuss how best to respond, how to help in the healing of our community. You understand how it is at those events, you enter the large room and look to sit at table with persons you know. I sat at a table with seven other persons, friends whom I knew and some persons who were strangers to me.  Being my expressive, verbose self, I was chatting away with two clergy friends and finally turned to introduce myself to the woman sitting on my left. She was quiet, sullen, her head down. "Hello," she said, "I'm Rabbi Cheryl Klein of Dor Hadash. Members of my synagogue were murdered two weeks ago at services at the Tree of Life."

In the days, weeks, months and now years following there have been articles, columns and books written. Monday evening I participated in an event with an author reading from her collection of essays.  A personal favorite was a woman who moved to Pittsburgh and prior to moving researched our city. "Sports teams," she told her husband, "we need to learn about their teams and wear their gear. We'll be part of the city then.  They're sports obsessed."  The woman went on to write that her husband chose the Penguins and she chose the Pirates (bless her....).   

Every essay read, shared a common thread regarding the people of Pittsburgh.  Though not knowing the meaning of yinz nor understanding exactly what it means to "red up" a room...each remarked on the friendliness and kindness of Pittsburghers. 

The Tree of Life synagogue is literally in Mr. Rogers neighborhood. We like to claim him as one of our own. He will always be the most famous graduate of the seminary I attended. As we pause to re-member and to heal our communities, congregations and country, I share this quote from Fred Rogers, "Love is at the root at everything, all learning, all relationships, love or the lack of it."   Hmmmm....someone else I know said and taught something similar.....